Creating space for your soul to breathe so you can discern your next right thing.

Let’s Share What We Learned This Fall

Welcome to What We Learned, where we pause to reflect on the past season before we move ahead into the future. At the end of this post, you’re invited to link up to your own list of what you learned this quarter – be it silly, serious, sacred, or just plain useful. I like to share a mix of all of those.

If you’re visiting for the first time from my podcast The Next Right Thing, welcome! We do this every quarter and will share our next list (What We Learned in Winter) on Wednesday February 28. Grab your free printable list here to help you keep track and plan to share with us then. Now you can also share your list on Instagram using #wwlcommunity.

Here are 10 things I learned this fall in no particular order.

1. Jennifer Garner is a delight on Instagram.

Some people you follow for inspiration. Others because they are your friend or you want to learn from them or their feed is just pretty.

But Jennifer Garner you follow because she is a DELIGHT. I’ve always liked her, but that doesn’t always translate into an interesting instagram account. Thank you Jamie B. Golden for being our social media boss and telling us to follow this fantastic human. Every single time she posts, I smile. Not like, in my heart kind of smile. I actually smile on my face.

2. In a world that seems drunk on power, this:

“The flourishing of the vulnerable depends on the vulnerability of the flourishing.”

— Andy Crouch, as quoted in Shrink by Tim Suttle

3. The role of faith in learning is real.

About half-way through my first semester of grad school, my professor Tim Keel encouraged our class not to become overwhelmed with all of our reading. “Don’t become anxious. Read by faith. Trust God will bring it back around when you need it.” It’s been years since I’ve been a student, so those words were a lifeline for me in that moment.

4. I am a weirdo who loves cloudy, foggy days.

I belive I would do well in London. When I wake up and the cul-de-sac is covered with a thick blanket of fog, I can physically feel myself relax on the inside. And if the sun starts to burn it off later in the morning, I physically feel disappointed. It’s so strange. It’s happened all my life, but it wasn’t until this fall that I realized it and named it.

5. Dropbox is saving my life.

I save all of my files in Dropbox now and it is a game changer. Amy Porterfield taught me how to be organized in Dropbox in an online class I took of hers (it’s not rocket science but evidently I needed someone to teach me these things).

I didn’t realize how much low-grade anxiety was coming from my lack of file organization. But now look! All my podcast episodes lined up pretty.

6. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it forever.

You guys. I said that in Episode 13: Quit Something. And you lost your minds. Not really, but when I put this image on instagram, here’s what happened:

In the years I’ve been on Instagram, this image got the most response, two-fold that of my second most responded to image. That’s something to pay attention to.

I’m sure there are various reasons, depending on who you are, why this statement resonated. But one reason could be that we live in a world that celebrates starting, producing, winning, and follow-through but there are precious few times where we are encouraged to stop, to quit, or to reconsider an endeavor. Being good at something does not obligate us to commit to it forever or at all. You can listen to the 17 minute episode right here: Quit Something.

7. When making decisions for your home, sometimes waiting is a decision.

For years I’ve known I wanted to do something different in our 1960s bathroom but I just didn’t know what I wanted to do. So I waited. And waited. And it was a low priority. A year or nine went by and this year, I’m finally realizing what I really like.

There are about forty tile options I love (just search “black and white” tile on the Google). This one is called Kenzzi Paloma 8×8 Premium Porcelain. And because you might ask, the shoes are Pons by Avarcas USA in Taupe.

P.S. This image is my second most liked ever on Instagram so you know, that says something about us, too. Ha!

8. Chili with cinnamon rolls is a thing.

I spent a week in Wichita, Kansas for my residency and at the retreat center they served chili with cinnamon rolls. Like, as part of the dinner, not as the dessert.

I thought it was so strange that I put it in an Instagram story (of course I did) and heard from so many people who grew up on this. And not just Kansas! I heard from Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, and Nebraska, too. They even served this combo in school cafeterias! Wow.

9. Jonathan Edwards was Aaron Burr’s grandfather.

I am sure everyone else knew this but I did not! And now that line in Wait for Itmake’s sense: “My grandfather was a fire and brimstone preacher (preach-a, preach-a, preach-a) . . . ” Thank you, Hamilton soundtrack, for teaching me so much about Aaron Burr, sir.

10. Krispy Kreme gives a free donut for every report card A.

Never mind that donuts aren’t that expensive. This is so fun and I did not know this all this time! It almost makes me forgive them for their gross misuse of the letter K.

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I keep track of what I’m learning by using my seasonal reflection lists. You can get your own printable lists for tracking your reflections by signing up right here. If you’re new around here and want to know what, how, and tools to track what you’re learning, check out A New Page for Your Bullet Journal.

Reader Interactions

Comments

I am from Iowa and loved the reminder about chili and cinnamon rolls. I didn’t like chili when I was in elementary school but would always still buy my lunch at school that day for the cinnamon roll. Thank you for sharing the quote from your professor, Tim Keel. I think it applies whether you are in a formal class or not.

When I first moved from Massachusetts to Nebraska I was completely baffled by the chili-cinnamon roll combo. But…16 years later…I can admit it…it’s kinda awesome.

And yes, that statement about not having to do something forever, even if you’re good at it…resonated SO much with me when I heard you say it on the podcast. Also, I had a girlfriend over last night, and we were talking about podcasts, and she pulled up The Next Right Thing and said, “You HAVE to listen to this one!” YAY!

Such fun learning! I’m not sure I could do the cinnamon rolls and chili, but I’m tempted to head over to Krispy Kreme with my kids’ report cards…do you think I can pass for middle school? Oh, I’m supposed to bring the kids???

Yes, your quote “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it forever.” stuck with me. Definitely felt tension when I quit teaching. And after a few months of doing custom paintings, though it went well, I don’t know that it is something I would want to keep doing. appreciated your timely advice.

Wyoming also does the chilli and cinnamon rolls. I was actually really shocked that my parents (who came from out of state. Iowa and ND actually) didn’t know about this combo and thought it was odd. My third grade self was like, “But it’s even on the school menu! How do you not know about this?”

Yes with the Jennifer Garner! I was so happy when she began instagramming more often. And, admittedly, several years ago I was one of the many college students who seriously considered a career at the CIA because of her. HA! (that’s so embarrassing when I think about it– but I know I’m not alone.) 🙂

I really appreciate your ‘role of faith in learning’ point. It’s such a good reminder to live as WHOLE people, wholly dependent on the Lord. He is in all!
Also, I love the fog too. Somehow it makes me feel cocooned and small – in a good way – almost as if it’s giving me permission to tend to what cannot be seen for a time.
Thank you!

I can’t even begin to explain in proper words how much I LOVE your podcast. It is my FAVORITE, and I listen to a TON of podcasts each week (it’s my obsession, I listen when I drive to and from work, when I work out an hour a day, and at any other time I can listen to podcasts). I have shared your podcast with SO MANY friends lately, and we all love it (so, if you have noticed an increase in podcasts viewing, you’re welcome (kidding, but not really). Each episode seems just for me, and I listen multiple times. You make Tuesday AWESOME. I look so forward to when a new episode comes out. Thanks for being awesome and for putting your thoughts into beautiful words.

Chili and cinnamon rolls is a new one. Sounds good though! I love an occasional cloudy day, like when we lived in Phoenix. But here in Ohio, well, we have too many for this Love-Of-Sunshine girl. Though I do love Fall here with the many beautiful trees changing their color.

So I have a degree in Mass Communication with an Emphasis in Journalism. For 13 years I was a reporter/writer for small town newspapers. I really felt, when I left in 2011 to be home with my son before he went to school, that I had committed some gross crime because I left what I was sure God had called me to do (even though an assessment my dad ordered for me through Crown Financial listed it as the number one thing I should NOT try to make a career at based on my personality test). Your instagram post about not having to do something just because we’re good at resonated with me because it was another reminder that we don’t have to have one calling in life – as I recently heard TD Jakes say as he promotes his new book – we don’t have to have one calling in life – God may call us to do many things. Which is weird for me to write because years ago a woman put her hand on me, prayed over me and said “You will know a little bit about a lot of things.” I had no idea what that meant back then and am only now starting to realize what it might have meant.

YES! That’s one reason I wrote my book A Million Little Ways – because I was so tired of the pervasive belief that there is only one right thing to do, one calling, one way to be ourselves in the world. Nope – there may be a million little ways!

Have you read Andy Crouch’s book Strong and Weak? I had it on my “What I Learned This Summer” List because it taught me so much about power, suffering, withdrawal but more importantly, about flourishing. A must read for Spiritual Directors I think..

And to add to the thoughts about giving yourself the permission to move in a different direction, when we were hiking in the Alps there were usually several paths up the mountain…You get to the same place but the views are different, as well as the difficulty…you get to choose…a great metaphor for life! So glad that idea is resonating with so many. It gives me hope!

I like mist and rain and fog too, because of the tactile nature of the wetness or moisture on the skin! I feel somehow more alive when I hike on a wet warm day, dressed for it. You would like London, with their hot tea and umbrellas. Listing things is so satisfying and as a calligrapher I use colorful inks and make it a practice time. “They know enough who know how to learn.” (Henry Brooks Adams). Believe me, pardon the humble boast here, I am 62 and am managing in my second year as a public schools art teacher. I struggled terribly last year in the transition but people are very helpful! Praise God we can always learn!

What a lovely idea! Boy, I wish this kind of thing was headline news. What a better world it would be.
Cheers,
Christine
Currently in Siem Reap, next stop Phnom Penh, travelling for a year with husband + 2 teens

Hey there! Just wondering when we can look forward to sharing more things we learn. I know you do this seasonally, and last year you posted the dates ahead of time (which was super helpful).
Thanks & Happy New Year!